Cops: T&T students killed in dispute over torched car

(Trinidad Guardian) Police are working on the theory that teenaged friends—Daniel Halls and Stephan Singh—were killed in a dispute over the torching of a car.

According to police reports, around 4.40 pm on Tuesday, residents of St John’s Road, St Augustine, heard gunshots and alerted the police.

Stephan Singh (left) and Daniel Halls
Stephan Singh (left) and Daniel Halls

Officers responded and found the bodies of Singh and Halls, both 16, in a forested area.

Police said they were told that the teens were seen in a group of five entering the bushes. Singh was a student of Trinity East College while Halls attended Aranguez North Secondary. Police said Halls had an empty revolver on him when he was found.

Police said they received information after receiving a voice note sent by Halls to another friend trying to clear Singh’s name. On the voice note, Halls was addressing another man who was blaming the friends for partially burning a Nissan Sentra but Halls tells the person to confess and to offer compensation for the damage.

“Let the men and them know me and you bun down the thing boy and you willing to pay the men and them, or if you not willing to pay the men and them I done tell you look how much guns I have here.

“It’s bacchanal. It’s bacchanal. You moving like a real rocket. Dog, I telling you even Stars and them coasting you, making it look like Stars and them put up the ting when Stars had nothing to do with it dog. It is me and you stamp the shot. Let the men and them know it’s me and you do it dog,” Halls is heard saying.

Tunapuna police eventually found the burnt car but no report was made about the incident. Police said they believe the two friends went to clear the air on the issue and may have ended up in a further altercation, resulting in their deaths.

Singh was buried yesterday following a funeral service under Muslim rites at his Plantana Drive, Dyette Estate, Cunupia, home.

Speaking with the media following the funeral service, Theatre Arts teacher at Trinity College East, Shawn Smart, said the entire school was “hit hard” when they learned Singh had been killed and both teachers and students alike were affected.